20 Matthews Lane, Picton NSW 2571

Durham Lodge was the name given to the homestead built on a unique and private 11.91 acre parcel of flat land a little over 50 years ago, just 700m from Picton railway station, and fronting Stonequarry Creek, part of the Upper Nepean catchment. The completion of the railway line in 1863 moved the quality sandstone quarried in the area, and brought Sydney siders to visit the area, including the mineral springs, on the southern boundary of the property, which gave the name to the road where the homestead is located.

Some of the original cedars remain of the many that were cleared to build the five bedroom, two story blonde brick residence in 1968, by Camden builder Leon Young, to the plans of Mrs FJ Durham, the original owner.
The homestead itself is set back from the private no through road, one street back from the main road, with a large driveway and turning circle.

The building features cypress flooring throughout, oversize bedrooms, high ceilings, double hung timber framed windows and numerous living areas designed to make the most of the views. There are two bathrooms upstairs, and two toilets downstairs. The gang-nailed hardwood roof trusses, formed by rolling through presses, were cutting edge technology at the time, but are no longer used by builders because they are considered unnecessarily strong and too expensive. Even the hardwood staircase sits on steel treads 12mm thick, similarly over engineered. A tall and wide covered veranda runs the full length of the house, facing the gorge and cliffs beyond.

Under the roofline of the house is a remote opening extra long single garage. A separate lined and insulated garage off the driveway accommodates a further four cars.

Mrs Durham also built a detached dance studio, complete with parquetry flooring, in the same brick and tile style of the house. More recently, that space has become an 80sq m self contained cottage, popular on air bnb, featuring a pot belly stove forged in the Durham foundry, and a cast iron clawfoot bath beside a large picture window looking across the gorge to the cliffs beyond. The cottage bathroom has a heated mirror and heated floor, beneath Indian Gohera limestone tiles, with Dark Emperador marble borders, mosaic recesses and features, continued through the laundry and toilet spaces.

A beautiful waterfront property this size offering privacy and views, located just minutes to supermarkets, entertainment and rail transport is hard to come by. Durham Lodge is unmatched in these respects. The land is mostly flat, and out of the flood zone.
About half the property is fenced into productive paddocks, suited to a variety of purposes, currently grazing sheep and alpacas. A 60 foot round yard, day yards and tractor shed would suit the horse enthusiast.

Half of the property is wilderness. Tracks wind through the rainforest to the cave, swimming and fishing holes and the waterfall. It is another world down in the gorge. The wildlife is abundant, and includes a resident lyre bird, a black footed wallaby and echidnas. Engineered caged ladders set into the sandstone cliff face near the pool provide access.

Literally on the edge of the cliff is a wet edge infinity pool and spa, framed by great eucalypts. The water seems to disappear over the cliff. The view across the gorge to the escarpment beyond is extraordinary. At night, the water of the pool transforms into a mirror, reflecting the gorge, illuminated by floodlight. Nowhere else will you see anything like it. Infinity is a suitable description. Pool chemistry is automatically monitored and maintained. Pumps can run on off peak or mains electricity. A large entertaining cabana, a bathroom featuring crosscut travertine tiles, and sauna are part of the pool area and require some work to bring to completion.

There are three sources of water: town water, rainwater and the river. All rainwater from the house is collected and feeds a 24,000 litre tank. Infrastructure is in place to pump water up from the river for stock and irrigation.

Cooking for both house and cottage is gas cooktop and elec oven. LPG is supplied from 2 x 210kg bottles and is reticulated underground to the house, the spa/pool heater and the cottage.
Electricity is three phase and has a 2.5 kw solar array away from the house.
Heating for house and cottage is open fire and gas. There is no shortage of firewood on the property. The cottage has a split system a/c.
Hot water for the house is evacuated tube solar, with both gas and off peak electric boosting if required. The cottage has an instant gas water heater.
The property has the potential to be completely off the grid

I am told Mrs Durham had some connection with the Royal Botanic gardens. The grounds contain many mature examples of her exotic plantings, notably an unusually tall flowering cactus. Other feature trees include Cape Chestnut, Dawn cedar, Atlantic cedar, Silky oak, Illawarra flame, Peppercorn, Jacaranda, Cercis. Many wattle trees provide privacy.
The driveway is bordered by Ash trees with alternating red and orange Cotoneaster.
The fruit salad orchard includes citrus, macadamia, apricot, peach, nectarine.

No built in wardrobes. No ceiling fans. Some renovation work has been completed. The eaves, exterior floodlights and three upstairs rooms have been retrofitted with LED lights. The main kitchen requires complete replacement. Some floors require re-sanding. The walls require painting. The property is on the main southern railway line. Much of the cliff is unfenced.

Inspections strictly by appointment only.